Read News, Biographies, and Reports
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Learning Objectives
- 1Distinguish between news articles, biographies, and reports
- 2Identify the text features used in each nonfiction type
- 3Apply reading strategies suited to each nonfiction genre
Mini Lesson
Nonfiction comes in many forms. A news article reports current events quickly and clearly. A biography tells the true story of a real person's life. A report presents researched information about a topic in an organized way. Knowing which type you are reading helps you understand its purpose and use its features.
Three Key Nonfiction Types
- News article: answers Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How — the most important information comes first.
- Biography: follows a person's life in order (birth, challenges, achievements) and includes personal quotes.
- Report: organized under headings, uses facts and data, often includes charts, diagrams, or references.
How to Read Each Type
- News article — read the headline and first paragraph to get the main facts fast.
- Biography — look for a timeline or key events; notice how challenges shaped the person.
- Report — use headings to navigate; check charts and diagrams before reading the body text.
Ask yourself: "Is this about an event (news), a person (biography), or a topic (report)?" The answer tells you which reading strategy to use.
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